Wire-stretcher



:No Model.)

J. W. AUSTIN. WIRE STRETHER.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE..

JOHN w. AUSTIN, OE PILOT POINT, TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent N o. 527,311, dated October 9, 1894..

Application filed March 16, 1894. Serial No. 503,858. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pilot Point, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers; and I dov hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to apparatus or implemen'ts for stretching barbed fence wire, and its object is to provide an improved device for such purpose which shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l '1s a perspective view of a portion of a barbed wire fence and my improved stretcher, showing the manner of using the latter. Fig. 2 is a plan .view of the stretcher detached, on an enlarged scale.

In the said drawings the reference numeral l designates the fence posts, 2 the wires an 3 the barbs.

The numeral 4 designates a yoke consisting of a metal plate bent over at its center forming two arms 5, 5, provided with apertures, through which passes a rotatable rod 6. One end of this rod is provided with a `nut or collar 7 to hold it in "place in the said arms, while the other end extends some dis; tance beyond the yoke and is bent to form an eye or loop 8. Said rod is also provided with a ratchet 9, with which engages a pawl 10, pivoted to one of the arms 5. At the bend or center of the plate forming the yoke is swiveled a rod 12, having its free end bifuradapted to engage with one of the barbs of the wire and hold the yoke in place.

Connected with the rod 6, between the arms 5, `is a stretching Wire or rope 14, provided at its free end with a rod 15, having its ends bifurcated and bent or curved to form a split hook 16, similar to hook 13.

The operation is as follows: The hook 13 is engaged with one of the barbs of the fence wire and the hook 16, engaged with another barb, as seen in Fig. 1. By now placing a rod, bar or other instrument through the eye in rod 6, (a hammer .handle being shown in the drawings) and rotating the rod, the stretching rope or wire will be wound thereon and the wire stretched. The pawl and ratchet hold the wire in its stretched condition until it is secured.

By the above it will be seen that I provide a veryfsimple and eliicient device which can be readily connected with and disconnected `from the fence wire and by means of which the wires can be readily stretched.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- As an improved article a fence wire stretcher consisting of the bent plate, the hook swiveled thereto and provided with a split hook at its free end, the rotatable rod passing through apertures in said plate and having one end formed into aloop or eye, the stretching wire secured to said rod, and the rod connected with said wire and having its free end formed into a split hook; substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aitixed my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

JOHN W. AUSTIN. Witnesses:

R. T. EVANS, F. C. BLACKWELL. 

